Great article although I think the conclusion isn't really necessary. What
this article leaves out (and I know you have limited space) is just 30 years
later, Japan and Russia went to war over Manchuria and the Korean peninsula in
what is considered the first major war of the century. Japan won the war
unexpectedly (at the outset) but decisively despite just being decades into its
modernization efforts and not a traditional Western power. Unfortunately it may
have been precursor to what ultimately led to the mother of all wars, WWII.
Good story though.